I was suffocating.

It felt like someone was pressing on my neck.

I opened my eyes while struggling.

“…huu..huu..”

It was getting harder to breathe. My head was aching as if it were being squeezed.

‘Crazy, how long did I run yesterday?’

I can’t go to work in this condition.

More likely I’ll have to take half a day off.

‘’Knock, knock.’’

I turned my head reflexively to the door. My eyes widened in an instant.

A wall with a strange picture, a door with a living grain of wood, and a bed with curtains.

…This isn’t my room.

Confused, I tried to get up from bed.

I needed to find out where I was.

But the blanket was too heavy.

“What’s going on? What on earth is with this arm? Reminds me of a branch.’’

I pulled the blanket with all my might, listening to the rough beating of my heart.

I was out of breath even though I just rolled out of the blanket.

‘Mirror–.’

Thud!

My body tilted even before my legs touched the ground.

“Ruel nim!”

The door opened and a man in a black suit hurriedly approached.

“Are you all right?”

“…Ruel?”

The stranger looked at me in question.

‘Why does the name sound so familiar?’

The man who appeared to be a butler easily lifted me onto the bed.

“You almost got in trouble. The fever just dropped this morning. Are you hurt anywhere?”

The butler asked me who was looking around.

‘Ruel Setiria?’

That was the name that came to my mind right away. The man standing before me became nervous.

“Do you still have a fever, Mr. Ruel?”

The butler carefully put his hand on my forehead with his white gloves on.

“The fever went up again. I’ll get your meds ready right away.”

I grabbed the butler with my scrawny hands.

If the name I said was wrong, he would have questioned me.

The man gave a chuckle.

“Mirror.”

“What?”

“The mirror.”

Even talking seems to sap my breath away.

“Would you like me to bring it?’’ asked the butler.

I stared into the butler’s eyes as a response.

The butler bowed his head after much consideration.

“I’ll be right back.”

When the butler left, I felt my body exhausted as if I had been running for an hour straight.

‘It couldn’t have been.’

‘No way.’

‘The owner of this body, Ruel? That Ruel Setiria?’

Ruel Setiria.

A character in the first volume of the web novel ‘SSS-class Knight’. A sickly aristocrat. Ruel had an unknown disease, but it was never revealed what it was.

How could it have been known, when he died in the middle of the first book?

“Knock, knock’’

“I’m coming in.”

Cassion, the butler came into the room carrying the mirror with a faint smile. He brought the mirror to the man on the bed, judging that he didn’t even have the strength to lift the mirror.

Only after seeing the reflection looking back on the mirror did the sense of reality set in.

What was staring back at him was a sickly face, showing the effect of a long bout of illness, the skin was pallid and the eyes were made prominent by the darkened shade around them. The unmanaged gray hair grew wildly like weed, and blurred green eyes were distorted.

What a fucking joke.

Ruel Setiria. I become a weak and useless nobleman.

“Cassion.”

The butler looked at me anxiously at this breaking voice of mine.

“You’re so pretentious.”

If anyone saw it, he could be mistaken for the butler as someone loyal who was worried about his owner, and was heartbroken after checking his master’s condition

“Yes, Mr. Ruel.”

I waved my hand lightly.

My body was out of breath just by saying how weak it was.

“Mr. Ruel, are you out of breath?”

Cassion handed me something that was of reach on the table.

A small finger looking object similar to a flute.

“It may be hard for you sir, but please breathe in this Breath slowly.”

After hesitating for a while, I bit the Breath in my mouth.

No matter how much Cassion wanted to kill me, it’s not time yet.

As I slowly inhaled the Breath, it felt like the thing that had been tightening my chest loosened.

“Don’t hold your breath and use this magic tool.”

‘So it’s a magic tool.’

The unfamiliar words felt strangely familiar.

I looked at the magic tool with a lightened breathing.

That was a cut in my own life from now on.

“Mr. Ruel, today’s meal?”

Cassion’s eyes, which contained worries, did not change as I looked at him calmly.

“I’m going to eat today. Bring it.”

“Since you’re sick, you should eat a lot.”

Cassion smiled broadly.

“Okay, I’ll get it right away.”

“After taking the medicine.”

“Yes, Mr. Ruel.”

As soon as Cassion went outside, I rubbed my arm.

“Crazy guy.”

Cassion pretended to be a butler, but he was actually an assassin.

To be exact, he was an assassin hired by Ruel’s cousin who was aiming for the Setiria family.

Ruel was a castaway.

He was pushed to the outskirts of the territory and lost Setiria to his cousin.

“Cough, cough. ”

I gripped my throbbing chest at the sudden cough.

Damn this body.

How I wish I could be the main character of this novel.

I thought everything over again.

‘SSS-class Knight’ was an unfinished novel.

In other words, no one knew the ending.

What a fucking joke.

I patiently closed my eyes and re-opened them.

There was light in my hazy eyes.

‘Let’s live for now. Let’s live on.’

I had to live on, even without knowing the ending.

***

“Do you like it?”

I put the spoon down at Cassion’s question.

Cassion looked at me and gently folded his hands.

While standing by the side, Cassion showed traces of an eerie smile.

‘Asshole.’

I was disgusted by him acting like that in front of the sickly.

“It tastes bad. ”

It may be because of the medicine that Ruel himself takes or because of the disease, but I can’t even tell what the food tasted like.

“I’m sorry.”

Cassion clenched his folded hand hard.

I grabbed the spoon again.

“But I’m still going to eat.”

“That’s right, you need to nourish your body”

“Shouldn’t you live?”

I smiled at Cassion.

It was a smile that revealed his insidiousness.

I have to find a way to live first.

“Cassion.”

The weak voice called Cassion.

However, in a different gaze than usual, Cassion thought that the collar of his shirt had become unusually stuffy.

“Yes.”

Cassion looked at Ruel in response. Nothing has changed.

He looked as if everything was normal as usual.

I drank the soup gracefully with my trembling hands. The noble attitude contrasted with my pale face.

“Let’s not pretend.”

“Yes?”

“Pretend. Don’t be nervous.”

I stopped talking and took a breather in the middle.

“This is annoying.”

Cassion didn’t know what was annoying, but he was clearly more displeased with the eyes of Ruel, looking at him.

“I can’t speak much.”

“…….”

“But when do you want to kill me?”

One corner of my dry lips tilted up.

Cassion’s hand, which had been folded, loosened. Laughter leaked from his lips.

“Oh, you knew?”

He turned into a hunter who saw prey instead of anxiety in his eyes.

“Of course.”

I looked at the hunter and answered leisurely.

Cassion drew a chair while looking around and sat next to Ruel.

Then he unbuttoned his suit and crossed his legs.

“I’m going to die two weeks from now because I can’t overcome my illness.

My cousin, Mineta Setiria is prepared for it to happen, isn’t he?”

“That’s right.”

“Well, anyone can tell by sight that your eyes are full of greed.” I laughed.

Cassion’s confidence was amusing, and I as Ruel, who had firmly believed in him without knowing that he was an assassin sent to kill him, the thought itself was ridiculous.

Cassion messed up his neatly arranged hair.

“This is very strange.”

“What?”

“I’m sure you didn’t know anything until yesterday, how did you know today? Isn’t that weird?”

“What do you know after only half a year?”

After coughing a couple of times, I finished eating the soup.

This damn body. I can’t even eat comfortably.

Cassion took out the dagger he had hidden in his arms and toyed it lightly.

“It’s also a time to know a lot in half a year. Anyway, I’d like to hear what made my master speak up.”

“Lord.”

“……?”

“Call me.”

No matter what anyone says, Setiria’s lord was Ruel.

Cassion stopped toying the dagger and looked greatly surprised.

“You are the most honest person I’ve ever seen.”

At the derisive remark, l returned it as it was.

“Because it’s me.”

“Hahahaha!”

Cassion dropped his dagger and held his stomach laughing.

I continued to eat silently while watching him.

The laughter paused after a moment.

“Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

“You’re going to die. Not in 2 weeks, but today. Do you know how hard my head was spinning because of that?”

“I won’t die.”

Cassion suddenly got out of his seat and placed the finely folded paper packet down, next to the tray.

“This is the medicine you should take today. You know, without this medicine, you wouldn’t last a day.”

“I won’t die.”

At his determined answer, Cassion smiled and looked at Ruel.

“I’m often told that I’m quite easygoing. But it seems like you’re more than I am.”

Like a child watching a circus, Cassion was colored with expectations of finishing Ruel.

As he said, Ruel, a character in the “SSS-class Knight,” was so weak that he could not even survive a day without medicine.

But I was different.

Though my body was weak, I wasn’t sick to the extent that I couldn’t think. I raised my finger and pointed at Cassion.

“You’ll protect me.”

“Yes?”

I decided to give Cassion a blow.

“Heirloom, you want the Turbulent day, don’t you?”

“…….”

Cassion shut his mouth.

“My cousin’s gonna give it to you, right?

Although his expression didn’t change, it was fully predictable how embarrassed Cassion was now. Cassion was aiming for a sword called Turbulent Day.

A sword known to have cut down an evil hero, there was no special force in it anymore.

But Cassion was a sword collector.

The things he could do, if he had the opportunity to hold the legendary family treasure of Setiria that everyone yearns for but couldn’t have?

But he was in the wrong about something though.

“Asshole.”

A word that was not at all noble popped out of Ruel.

Only then did Cassion’s mouth move.

“What do you want to say?”

“Water.”

I looked at the cup. The initiative in the conversation has been handed over to him.

Cassion crumpled his impression and poured the water.

Slowly, I drank the water, making me tired.

“Ruel!”

This time, Cassion called his name.

“Passed down through the bloodline.”

“Through the bloodline… ?”

“It’s me, Ruel Setiria, that is the current head of Setiria.”

Ruel laughed at Cassion and continued.

“I’m the only one who knows the location.”

“……!”

“You’re being cheated.”

“No…way.”

“Damn it!”

The fishing rod is bent greatly.

In the novel, my cousin did not know the location of the heirloom. But the location is obvious.

The heirloom would naturally be in a secure place with tight security.

I used three circumstances to my advantage to control the situation to my favour.

One, Cassion, knows that I have an unknown illness.

Second is that Ruel, who was stupid, has changed.

Finally, Cassion’s willingness to drop his superiority when it suited him.

Cassion seemed as if he had a fever because he looked like he had a hard time thinking, especially with the current situation.

‘Okay, that’s a very satisfying face.’

I opened my mouth, holding back my desire to smile.

“I’ll give it to you.”

Cassion pursued his lips. He must be upset since he was fooled by my cousin.

“Because I’m ill, it’ll be of no use to me anyway..”

“…How do you guarantee that?”

“We’ll sign a contract.”

I patted myself on the chest.

Everyone in the world of ‘SSS-class Knight’ had mana and establishing contracts using the mana were a common occurrence.

“The conditions?”

Ho…Not only was the fishing rod bent greatly, but it was also winning the fight.

Just a little bit more.

“Be a loyal butler until I die.”

Cassion later becomes the main character’s loyal feet and ears. I must be a fool to let a fish already on the cutting board go, afterall I have to do my best live.

There was a glimmer in Cassion’s eyes that shook. This request was far simpler than he thought, It was easy to guess what’s on his mind as he had been watching Ruel for half a year.

`Ruel is about to die. Wouldn’t he be free after that?’

Cassion didn’t bother to hide his expression this time. Joy was exposed on the surface.

“Cough, Cough!”

I coughed loudly on purpose.

At the same time, the pain felt in my chest made me frown. Eventually, the fake cough became a real cough and something hot flowed down my throat.

At the moment, I wondered if I really was going to die.

‘Ha.’

However, when I looked up I saw Cassion’s face mixed with joy and embarrassment, with a big smile plastered on his face.

“Even like this…”

I wiped the blood off my mouth and clasped my trembling hands.

“I want to protect the Setiria.”

I said once more.

Cassion, He was the head of the assassin guild. Whether you belong to a family or a guild; as a leader or member, you will have the desire to protect.

His delicate expression was erased and he sat as the head of a guild.

“Please drink.”

Cassion held out a paper packet containing medicine.

“Shouldn’t we sign a contract?”

‘Heh.’

I coughed and hid my smile.

‘The fish is caught…’

My first step on the path of survival, catching a valuable piece as Cassion in my palm is almost a done deal.

***

The contract was concluded smoothly.

The sword Turbulent day will go to Cassion and in return Cassion will be a loyal butler until Ruel dies.

“I didn’t say the deadline on purpose. I’d like you to think that we’ll be together for at least half a year more.”

“Yes.”

Would I die after that? I don’t know. I would sacrifice as much could, even such as a seemingly fine sword for a glimmer of hope.

And I obviously will not let myself die.

For that sliver of hope, I need the power left by the Hero. It was the power held by a Hero just like his name. It was known to have been scattered all over the world before he died, and if I had all his power, I could become a real hero. But currently I didn’t know if I had a chance to be one.

Even the main character, who had acquired this power, could not gather all this power and tried to figure out it’s origin, but the ending of the ‘SSS-class Knight’ was never clear, so even he couldn’t discover who the hero was or what he did.

“Isn’t that funny?”

“What?”

Skrr, skrr.

It was interesting to see the assassin sitting next to him peeling an apple.

“I am an assassin who came to kill you. I didn’t expect to shave an apple like this.”

“But, now I’m a butler.” Cassion smiled awkwardly.

“What date is it today?”

“It’s September 11th.”

So it’s next week. Unlike the date Cassion promised my cousin to kill me, I was due to die a week later. My cousin changed his plan and tried to kill me by sending another assassin besides Cassion, but amusingly, Cassion killed Ruel first.

Cassion doesn’t like anyone else snatching his prey.

After that, the main character appears and solves the Setiria situation.

‘Oh, right. There was the protagonist. The Hero.’

The sound of peeling an apple stopped.

“Do you have a headache?”

“No.”

I want to avoid meeting the protagonist no matter what. Just by stepping on the same land as him, troublesome things will shortly follow.

It wouldn’t be bad to live prosperous and comfortable with the fortune I have at the moment.

Of course, before that…. Finding the means to live is the priority.

“Aside from you…”

Ruel asked, eating an apple handed by Cassion. “Who else is here?”

“What are you talking about?”

“People watching me.”

“It’s just me.”

“Ha.” Ruel smiled lightly.

Having come to recuperate, he did not plan to change his position as the head of Setiria. Somehow, only Cassion appeared in the novel. Was he just not sitting there?’

“There were originally about five people, including me, but I cut them all off when I was planning to assassinate you.”

“Why? It’s a waste of money because I am dying?”

“That’s what it is.”

“Anyone else who’s gonna kill me?”

Cassion suddenly paused the knife and smiled slightly when I made a face.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Habits don’t change at once. It’s not a butler’s job.”

“The butler keeps his master safe. From now on, include it.”

“It’s a bit far-fetched, but I understand.”

Cassion was clearly open-minded.

It’s as if you’re fulfilling the wishes of someone who’s about to die. Well he’s not exactly wrong. My current situation doesn’t offer many prospects, even my hands are tied to the point where I can hardly leave my bed.

“You are not aware but I was at the gathering. I saw them, there’s no point lying, we’re not even that close.”

“Are they here?”

“No.”

At the moment, Cassion’s eyes flashed with killing intent. .

My weak body reacted quickly to that intent and squeezed my heart. Grabbing my heart and heavily breathing I cried out.

“Cassion!”

“I’m so sorry.”

Cassion got up and bowed his head. He must have been hit by the binding, there were sweats adorned on his face. Soon he will be getting more and more aware of the efficacy of the contract.

“So?”

After inhaling Breath, I opened my mouth.

Cassion hesitated but soon calmly answered back with pride in voice.

“I didn’t want anyone to touch my prey, so I killed them all. At least in this mansion.”

It was as it was the same in the novel.

Looking back at him I said. “Get rid of the annoying things out of the house too.”

“I know. It’s just a bit troublesome.”

“What are you doing with the report? Sending it to my cousin, or to the rabbit?”

“I will still be reporting, and no, the rabbit is you. I can’t let this go.”

Cassion smiled peacefully.

Yeah, Cassion was that kind of guy.

He’s weird enough to have a discussion with the enemy even in the middle of a fight.

“If I were a rabbit, what would he be?” I asked curiously, after all it’s weird for a grown man to be compared to something like that.

“Well, a slug would be more fitting.”

“So, when do you report to slug?”

“The report is sent once a week. I originally reported through telegram, but that takes almost a month to deliver.”

Hearing this I said, “Don’t be cheap.’

Cassion shrugged at that.

“What’s in the report?”

“To be honest, it’s more like a medical journal that writes down your condition. How sick you are, how you vomited several times a day. How much did the fever go up and many more.”

l raised the corners of my mouth. This is a report done to confirm when I will die.

That’s good.

There won’t be any trouble any time soon.

“Keep reporting just as before.”

“Yes, sir.”

“What do I need to know?” Ruel asked.

“Tomorrow, your cousin will come.”

I stopped chewing the apple, and scowled.

“Why?”

“If you ask me why, I can only tell you that it’s a regular event.”

It’s a regular event.

It’s hard to tell why an extra who is not even close to the supporting actor in the novel would be given so much attention.

This was the world of fiction, but it was now my reality.

I gave a pained look. Ahh this is giving me a headache.

“When?”

“As usual, between 3-4 pm.”

‘That’s plenty.’

I put down my fork and looked out the window.

The sun was already setting. A new day will soon arrive.

Tomorrow, I should try going out.

“Is it possible to deal with things outside of the mansion by today?”

“Of course, any requests to add?”

“Do it yourself.”

“Okay, I’ll take care of it so it doesn’t bother you.”

Seeing my skinny complexion becoming paler Cassion got up from his seat. I was getting another wave sickness again. The effect of using Breath is getting less pronounced and is gradually reaching it’s limit.

“Please take a rest for today. Don’t you have a headache?”

No one knew of the disease that Ruel had. It wasn’t that Cassion didn’t do anything. He was the one sent to kill anyway, but he thought he should at least know what disease Ruel is dying of. While Ruel was sleeping, he once called the doctors.

Illness of unknown cause. That was Ruel’s diagnosis.

Cassion laid down Ruel on the bed. He was like a newborn baby who could do nothing by himself, no matter how imposing he looked earlier.

“Cassion.”

“Yes.”

“I’m going out tomorrow.”

Cassion gave Ruel a subtle look at the nonsense.

“I’m going out.”

Ruel spoke again.

He didn’t seem to know what he was talking about. Cassion sighed lightly, spoke serious tone.

“Mr. Ruel, please rest.”

“Why?”

“Nevertheless, don’t rush your short life and lie down nicely.”

The look Ruel showed today was pretty good. From the time they spent together over the past half year, Cassion liked the Ruel the saw today the most, so he sincerely advised him.

“Cassion.”

I smiled superciliously.

“I’m not dying.”

The eyes revealed on the pale complexion were filled with flames.

“So I will go out.”

Cassion was speechless. What do you mean by this when you’re talking with such resolute eyes? Ruel, who originally gave in to death, who he knew, was not here.

“Mr. Ruel.”

“I won’t say it again.”

What the hell is this about?

Cassion knew how bad his condition was and how painful he looked earlier. What in the world made him move today.

Even if it’s like this. I want to protect the Setiria.

The words spoken with conviction that shook one’s heart, suddenly echoed in Cassion. Cassion clenched his fist.

“Is it because of Setiria that you are so stubborn? Are you doing this because you are dying?”

Ruel looked at Cassion without saying a word. Cassion thought Ruel looked like a fading flame, blooming brighter and grander than ever before dying out, maybe that was the case here.

“Okay. I’ll get ready.”

Still, as a person who served, I think it’s the butler’s duty to grant his or her masters last wish.

Cassion bowed his head.

“Have a good rest.”

There was no sound of footsteps. I couldn’t hear the door closing.

Soon I realised that Cassion had left.

I looked at the door with an absurd face. ‘What is he saying now?’

He brought up Setiria this or whatever by himself, and he made up his mind and left.

‘Oh, I don’t know. I just want to go out.’

l couldn’t think of other things to do for fun activity.

My head throbbed. My skin felt as if they were being sliced. I struggled with unfamiliar pain and suffering. After groaning for a long time, I couldn’t win over the pain and my eye finally closed.

***

The night soon arrived and the sound of torches outside crackling could be heard.

Cassion hummed as he walked back silently. He was on the way back from checking on Ruel who had fallen asleep. Today, Ruel’s face was full of pain, from which he soon fainted from.

A poor fellow.

The assassin disguised as a butler for a request, but Cassion now thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea to be a real butler for a short time since he already signed a contract.

Cassion turned the dagger in both hands.

The Lord ordered me to kill the flies, so I’ll have to act on them.

Back then, he showed his killing intent on purpose.

Hehe.

Cassion grinned at the thought.

‘Five hunters, three more. You guys missed a lot, will have to punish you later.’

Cassion took a step after unbuttoning his collar.

Cassion stood in the shadows, and his hands raised catch all the lingering memory.

His purple eyes flash for an instant.

All the memories in the surroundings were caught, they were then pulverized and scattered into dust.

Weapon tracking.

Cassion walked among the shadows. He moved stealthily as is a panther until reappearing behind the enemy hiding behind the flower bed.

With a flash the sound of the heartbeat disappeared. The dark scent of blood lingered the dagger, which had stolen a life with a single swing.

‘That’s one.’

Cassion sunk back into the shadows again.

When he caught all five people he had seen with memorisation without causing a disturbance, Cassion soon walked back at the initial place.

There are three left.

There was news that the former employer had squandered his assets, but it seemed to be true. Otherwise, he could not have sent such sloppy people against him.

While blinking, three people dressed in black appeared.

Cassion laughed.

“Why did you come here in such a hurry?”

I didn’t hear the answer.

Since their necks have already been cut off.

Blood burst from the cut, and Cassion stood among them with not a single drop on him.

Cassion raised his hand.

His guild member, who was ambushed outside the mansion, appeared.

“Sir.”

His voice was quieter than usual because he had done something wrong.

“You missed eight people and made me come out to do your job.”

Looking at the subordinate he said, “Began the clean up.”

It wasn’t because the cleanup was bothersome. It would now be the punishment to guild members who had become negligent.

“I’ll take your orders.”

“One more.”

Cassion wiped the blood off the dagger and tidied up his uniform.

“Tomorrow the Lord is going out. It’s been a while since I have gone out as well so don’t cause any mistakes.”

“Yes sir.”

“Yeah, I’m heading back, put everything back neatly.”

As for what he’d say to his former employer is now in Cassion’s mind.

Let’s say they fought each other.

Shuaa.

All of a sudden, I woke to the sound of the curtains being drawn.

‘Fucking body.’

I could barely open my eyes.

After suffering the whole night in pain, I barely managed to get a wink of rest after being constantly woken up.

“Are you up?”

Hearing Cassion’s words, Ruel didn’t bother responding.

“Hey, I know you’re awake. If you want to go out and come back before the slug comes, you’re gonna have to hurry.”

Knowing I can’t pretend anymore, I opened my eyes and looked at Cassion.

Trying to get up, I was immediately overcome with weakness causing my body to feel limp and heavy as if it were shackled by steel chains.

‘This fucking body.’ Feeling limp, I laid back onto the bed cursing.

“Here, let me lift you up.”

Cassion raised Ruel’s upper body delicately without a stumble. After making sure Ruel was sitting comfortably on the bed, he brought water and medicine without a word.

“There’s still have a slight fever. You were sicker than usual last night.”

As if he was following a routine, Cassion lifted his body straight to wipe the sweat gathered on his body with a damp cloth and he did this with great familiarity, even helping him change his clothes.

I felt refreshed after cleaning my body.

“I know you don’t like it, but I’ll bring you a meal.” Cassion said to him, after helping.

“Sure.”

Seeing Cassion leave the room, l took medicine placed on the desk next to the bed.

Only after my body became more comfortable did I take in the surroundings. I realized that my room, which I thought was fine, had their windows blocked up by newspapers.

‘Would it be okay to say that it was that place with a yard, where it was cut off?’ I laughed lightly.

Although it was my second day of becoming Ruel, I felt good today thinking of finally saying goodbye to this wretched disease.

‘If I get that power, it will be a great start.’

The most important thing for a person to cherish is their health. After all you have to be healthy for you to do anything. I don’t want to go back to who I was before and certainly not the way I am right now either.

I just want to live a normal, healthy and peaceful life.

‘That should be very simple.’

***

After a light meal, I dressed before going out.

“Where did you find this?” Tugging at the loose clothes I asked. It felt like I was wearing someone else’s clothes.

Cassion complained of injustice.

“It’s only been half a year since I served you.”

“So?”

“What?”

“It’s good because you personally confessed your laziness of not doing anything for half a year.”

I took a breath and continued again.

“So you’re really letting me go out wearing these clothes?”

“Sorry. Among other women’s clothes, that one is the smallest one.”

“Thanks for saving my face.”

“I’m sorry.”

Hearing the same thing over and over again, I noticed a fact.

That slug had more money to eat than I thought.

It’s been more than five years since he kicked Ruel out with the excuse of nursing him. As the condition worsened, his authority as the Lord also steadily declined paving a way for his cousin. Even the smallest clothes he’s wearing now would be taxing for him to buy now.

“…….”, I laughed at the scene.

I didn’t know that Setiria’s condition would be much more severe than I thought.

“Sorry….”

“Okay, I’m ready.”

“All right. Please wait a minute.”

Cassion, who left with the door open, dragged something in. It was an object resembling a wheelchair with a clatter. Cassion then carried Ruel to the wheelchair and gently pushed him out of the room.

“Mr. Ruel, where do you want to go?”

“The backyard of this house.”

“yes?”

***

Druck. Druck.

Followed by the echoing sound of the wheels, Cassion calmly pushed the wheelchair to the backyard, he couldn’t help wondering what kind of outing it was.

Seeing the backyard, unkempt from overgrown weed wildly blooming, Ruel chuckled lightly.

Cassion, the ‘butler’ who couldn’t manage the entire mansion alone, felt uncomfortable considering he hadn’t seemed to have done his job well.

“It’s clean, no bloodstains. You cleaned it up very well.”

“That’s not the reason you’re here?”

“Cough, Cough.”

Just in time, I coughed.

“Of course not.”

Cassion could see the corner of Ruel’s mouth slightly rising.

‘Should I have tidied it up?’

Cassion gripped the handle tightly.

The assassins sent by slug stole everything from Ruel.

Even if they were dead, wouldn’t they have wanted to smile at the mess they made?

“Go over there.”

Looking around the yard, Ruel looked around and pointed to a tree.

‘Ah… I killed a man over there.’ Musing, Cassion slowly pushed the wheelchair, considering the road was rather bumpy. Although he was careful, Ruel still turned pale. Cassion glanced at Ruel’s complexion, he looked happier the more he saw.

‘There!’

Ruel was as excited.

The power was asleep in that ugly tree.

The way to live, my second chance.

The power left by the original Hero.

It was a kind of power that grew the more it was used.

There were four forces left by the hero as he knew it.

Who would’ve guessed it’ll be resting in someone’s backyard? No one would even suspect something so extraordinary was hibernating here.

Although by claiming this power he will be depriving the main character of one of his abilities, so what? The hero will be able to live well without it, but he himself could not.

It was a necessary action for survival.

The power of recovery. The strength to recover from illness and to recover endlessly.

With this ability, I wouldn’t die unless I was decapitated or stabbed in the heart. Grinning at the thought.

I pointed at the tree and said, “Cut.”

Perplexed Cassion compiled “Yes, sir.”

The lone tree was cut down mercilessly with a polite answer.

When the heavy tree fell with a thud, a piece of thumb was visible at the base of the truck.

You’ve got to say the protagonist is a lucky guy. Even the random tree he accidently cuts while fighting the assassins is full of opportunities. What a lucky guy.

‘It’s an amazing coincidence.’

I reached out to the thumb sculpture before Cassion said anything.

The moment I touched the thumb, it was as if time had stopped.

All sound and movement froze as if they were captured in a photo.

The trial has begun to see if I could inherit the power left by the hero.

[Do you know pain? Do you know the immensity of pain?]

“I know.”

I spoke with confidence.

The main character was also seriously injured because of Cassion.

“I know more than anyone else.”

I gripped the thumb tighter.

I knew if I had this body, I would be able to pass the trial with ease.

Light stretched out from the sculpture. It formed into a hand which slowly caressed his body.

[……sigh.]

Huh? There was no such reaction in the novel.

[I see, you know the pain more than anyone else.]

“Yes.”

Ruel laughed. As expected, He passed the trail successfully.

[Pitiful man, accept me. I will give you strength to overcome the pain.]

“Anytime.”

The hands that were groping for themselves came into their bodies.

And finally, the sculpture merged into his body, and the light vanished.

“Be careful! I don’t know what it is…What?!”

Cassion was shocked to see the thumb sculpture missing, but with a weird feeling he looked up at Ruel. Who had a serious expression on his face.

“Mr. Ruel?”

Ruel didn’t answer.

He just looked at the cut tree with a complex expression.

‘Is it a tree with a story?’

It was a tree that had existed even longer than the house it resides in.

It was such an unsightly tree that it did not fit in the backyard, but here it was left without any special instructions or care.

It was a miracle, such a tree was not cut until today.

Finally, after this day I can protect Setiria.

‘I made up my mind.’

Cassion, after looking around, decided to step aside.

“Mr. Ruel, It’s cold. I’ll bring the blanket.”

When he left, a sigh escaped from Ruel’s mouth, who had been staring at the tree for a long time.

Ruel soon quivered his lips and spat out a curse.

“……fraudster.”

I only felt a little lighter, but the disease that is crushing my body did not disappear.

‘What kind of recovery is this? Wasn’t I supposed to get cured and should be relieved from all pain? Damn it!’

It’s completely different from the novel!

The power of healing was real.

Is it because I’m not the main character?

I looked around and picked a stuck stone under the wheelchair.

‘Huh?’

My body moved more easily than I thought.

After seeing the sharp stone in my hand, I thought really hard, and then hit my leg.

“……uh!”

Maybe it’s because the grip on the stone or my body is weak, but it’s bleeding.

And I watched it quietly.

‘…..that’s weird.’

The blood stopped with the feeling of something warm moving inside the body, with that feeling the pain was also washed away.

By the time Cassion came back, the wound had healed.

‘What is this? It works?’

“Are you all right?”

Instead of covering me with a blanket, Cassion asked.

“No.”

It couldn’t have been all right.

It was because I just thought of one theory.

“Is that so?”

“Let’s just go in. Cough Cough.”

“Yes, sir.”

l heard the wheel rolling and bit my thumb.

‘Is it because the power only works after being inflicted with wounds? It speeds up recovery?’

It seemed so. Hasn’t it just been proven earlier.

‘What a fucking joke.’

Plans don’t always flow the way one wants them to.

Haaa….. My second chance to overturn my fate ended in failure.

Soon I didn’t have time to think about anything else. My stomach ached.

a whole lot.

***

‘……Huh?’

I can taste again.

The moment I saw Cassion looking at me with anticipated eyes, my appetite dropped sharply.

“How is it?”

“…Somewhat good.”

Cassion seems to be pleased with the reply because he was looking at me with delight.

“Cough, Cough!” In a sudden fit of cough, I stopped eating and grabbed my chest.

Not sure how long, even after a long time coughing didn’t stop.

Cassion stopped looking at Ruel and calmly pulled out the basin he had left under the bed and placed it beside him.

Something hot flowed up my throat.

“…… Wek!”

Blood black as pitch formed puddled on the basin.

After a long time the coughs stopped, but my whole body felt even weaker than before.

“Are you all right?”

Cassion wiped Ruel’s mouth and moved his eyes toward the door.

He seemed to be letting me know that someone was here, the slug appeared earlier than expected.

‘What a crazy timing.’

I stretched weakly on the bed and laughed inwardly.

Knock, knock.

“Come in, please.”

The door opened as soon as Cassion’s words were finished.

A middle-aged man dressed up in luxurious clothes from head to toe walked in.

Mineta Setiria was a man who glistened just like he was described in the novel. Especially his hair, they were shining even in this darkened room.

“How have you been, My lord?”

Mineta bowed gracefully.

When he lifted himself up again, he asked with a surprised look.

“……Are you okay?”

Don’t pretend you don’t know. You clearly heard it from outside. I’m really powerless right now, so I waved my hand weakly.

“Cassion.” Mineta said.

“Yes sir?”

“What happened?”

“He suddenly vomited blood during the meal.”

Cassion glanced at the basin and carefully moved it out of the bed.

“Did he take any medicine?”

“He did.”

“Then how is he not better!”

Watching this farce, l wanted to applaud him for his performance, if one didn’t realise his true character they would have thought that he was really concerned about his family.

What a sly man.

“That’s enough, get it out of here.” I said.

Cassion lowered his head and carried the basin outside.

“Oh, how come you’re getting so weak.”

Mineta sat in Cassion’s seat and clasped Ruel’s hand.

‘Cheeky…!’

I wanted to shout, but didn’t have the strength to speak.

“Please live a long life for Setiria, we need you.”

Unlike his consoling voice, Mineta’s eyes were filled with desire.

“No matter what anyone says, the Lord is the rightful blood of Setiria.”

Ruel was the only child of the main house, the heir to the name Setiria.

His parents died in a sudden accident, so he naturally became a head of the household.

“You don’t know how much the previous Lord cared about you. I have no doubt that you will be a great lord just like your father.”

‘It smells. This guy stinks.’

Although Mineta tried to hide his wiggling desire, every time he spoke the stench that leaked out made one nauseous.

Looking at the scene before him, Ruel thought of a familiar cliche.

‘You must be the one who killed Ruel’s parents.’

Then just as these thoughts drifted in mind, a warm current flowed throughout his body.

The power that disappeared after the trail slowly returned. As it slowed through the body it became easier to breathe. The pain that was crushing my chest was also eased.

This power. It might be possible for me to stand now.

‘Ha.’

I’m not wrong, this path is correct. It’s not a failure.

To be exact, it’s half successful.

The disease remains the same, but the power of recovery will not let him die. It will steadily heal me after a trauma.

‘That’s enough, for now.’

“Mineta….”

It may be because of a cough, but my voice sounded sour. They were like iron chains dragged across the floor.

‘That sounds terrifying.’ He sounded like he was in a very serious condition and even felt sympathetic toward himself when he heard it.

“Yes, My Lord.”

For a moment, I saw Mineta’s grin.

l almost laughed as soon as I saw that. He wasn’t aware of the fact that I was being vigilant.

“Thanks.”

Thank you so much.

For misunderstanding things yourself.